Clutch for traction-mowers.



C. F. RADATZ.

CLUTCH FOR TRACTION MOWERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-5. 1914.

14,148,623. Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

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CLUTCH FOR TRACTION MOWERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5. 1914.

l 1 48,623 Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH C0.,WASHINGTON. D c.

CHARLES F. RADATZ, OF'KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.

CLUTCH FOR TRACTION-FLOWERS.

A Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Original application filed August 6, 1913, Serial No. 783,272. Dividedand this application filed January 5, 1914. Serial No. 810,376.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES F. RADATZ,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Kenosha,county of Kenosha, and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Clutches for Traction-Mowers, ofwhich thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in clutch devicesfor traction mowers and constitutes a divisional application of theapplication filed by me on August 6th, 1913, Serial No. 783,272.

The object of this improvement is to provide a simple and effectivemeans whereby the traction portion of the device may be thrown into andout of operative condition independently of the means for operating themower attachment, and one in which the motive power is employed foroperating both the traction and mower portions of the device.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which, a

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a traction mower embodying myinvention,- Fig. 2, an enlarged section of the same taken on line 22 inFig. 1, and Figs. 3 and 1 are sections taken on lines 33 and 4-4respectively in Fig. 2.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings comprises a frame 5 having front ground wheels 6 and reartraction wheels 7.

In the forward part of the device is a motor driven driving shaft 8having an enlargement 9 carrying clutch teeth 10 and a secondenlargement 11 carrying clutch teeth 12. The enlargement 11 is journaledin a bearing 13 secured to a cross beam 14 of the frame 5.

In alinement with the motor driving shaft 8 is a driven shaft 15 whichis journaled in a bearing member 16 having a bearing portion 17 securedtherein. The shaft 15 is provided with a universal joint 18 therein andcarries at its rear end a bevel pinion 19 mesh-. ing with a bevel gear20. The bevel gear 20 is secured on the rear axle 21 and adapted toconvey power to the traction wheels 7 in order to make the device self-propelling.

On the adjacent ends of shafts 15 and 8 is mounted a hollow, or tubularshaft 22. The shaft 22 is provided with slots 23 which engage a pin 24;,the latter passing through shaft 15 and provides a means whereby shafts15 and 22 will be caused to rotate simultaneously and permit oflongitudinal relative movement thereof.

At the forward end of shaft 22 are provided clutch teeth 25 adapted toengage the clutch teeth 10 to establish an operative connection betweenthe shaft 22 and motor driven shaft 8.

J ournaled on the shaft 22 is a second hollow, or tubular shaft 26carrying at one end clutch teeth 27 adapted to engage clutch teeth 12 toestablish an operative connection between the motor driving shaft 8 andthe tubular'shaft 26. On the shaft 26 is a gear 27 which meshes with asmaller gear 28. The gear 28 is carried by a shaft which carries thepitman wheel 29-. The pitman Wheel 29 is adapted to operate the pitmanrod 30 of the mower attachment, as will be readily understood. The mowerattachment of the device is clearly set forth in my application abovereferred to and forms no part of this invention.

In each of the tubular shafts 22 and 26 is formed an annular groove 31,and a lever 32, which is pivoted to the frame 5, as at 33, operativelyengages each groove 31 to effect longitudinal movement of said shafts 22and 26. Each of the levers 32 is provided with a tension spring 341, andare adapted to normally maintain the clutch teeth 25 and 27 out ofengagement with the clutch teeth 10 and 12 respectively.

In the forward part of the device is a shaft 85 which carries a pedalarm 36 and is operatively connected with one of the levers 32 by meansof a connectingrod 37.

On the shaft 35 is rotatably mounted a sleeve 38. Said sleeve 38 carriesa pedal arm 39 similar to pedal arm 36. The pedal arm 39 is connectedwith the other lever 32 by means of a'connecting rod 10. At the upperend of each of the pedal arms 36 and 39 are provided toe clips 41 whichare adapted to engage an upturned portion 12 of the frame 5 to maintainthe clutch teeth in operative conditions.

From this construction, it will be observed, that upon forward movementof pedal arm 36, clutch teeth 25 and 10 will be moved to operativecondition and upon forward movement of pedal arm 39, clutch teeth 27 and12 will be moved to operative condition, each set of cooperating clutch,

variation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact detailsof construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. The combination of a frame; a driving Shaft journaled in said frameand having two sets of clutch teeth thereon; a driven shaft mounted insaid frame; a hollow shaft j ournaled on said driving shaft and mountedon said driven shaft; clutch teeth on said hollow shaft engaging one setof clutch teeth on said driving shaft; a second hollow shaft journaledon said first mentioned hollow shaft; clutch teeth on said secondmentioned shaft engaging the other set of clutch teeth on said drivingshaft; and means for independently actuating said hollow shafts forengaging and disengaging the clutch teeth, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a frame; a driving shaft journaled in said frameand having two sets of clutch teeth thereon; a driven shaft mounted insaid frame; a hollow shaft journaled on said driving shaft and mountedon said driven shaft; a slot and pin connection between said drivenshaft and hollow shaft; clutch teeth on said hollow shaft engaging oneset of the clutch teeth on said driving shaft; a second hollow shaftjournaled onsaid first mentioned hollow shaft; clutch teeth on saidsecond mentioned hollow shaft engaging the other set of clutch teeth onsaid driving shaft; and means for independently actuating said hollowshafts for engaging and disengaging the clutch teeth, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination of a frame; a driving shaft journaled in said frameand having two sets of clutch teeth thereon; a driven shaft mounted insaid frame; a hollow shaft 'journaled on said driving shaft and mountedon said driven shaft; a slot andfpin concop ies of this patent may beobtained for ;naled on said first mentioned hollow shaft;

nection between said driven shaft and hollow shaft; clutch teeth on saidhollow shaft 7 engaging one set of the clutch teeth on said drivingshaft; a second hollow shaft jourclutch teeth on said second mentionedhollow shaft engaging the other set of clutch teeth on said drivingshaft; and independent means carried by said frame, connected'with saidhollow shafts and adapted to disengage each set of cooperating clutchteeth independently, substantially as described 4. The combination ofazframe;"a driving shaft journaled in said frame and having two sets ofclutch teeth thereon; a driven shaft in alinement with saiddriving'shaft; a hollow shaft on the adjacent end portions of saiddriving and said driven shafts, there being slots in one end of'saidhollow shaft; a pin through said driven shaft and engaging said slots;clutch teeth on said hollow shaft engaging one set of the clutch teethon said driving shaft; a second hollow shaft mounted on said firstmentioned hollow shaft and having clutch teeth at one end a hollow'shafton the adjacent end portions of said driving and said driven shafts,there being slots in one end of said hollow shaft and an annular grooveadjacent said slots; a pin through said driven shaft and engaging saidslots; clutch teeth on saidhollow shaft engaging one set of the clutchteeth of said driving shaft; a second hollow shaft mounted on said firstmentioned hollow shaft and having an annular groove near one'end andclutch teeth at the other end thereof, said clutch teeth engaging theother set of clutch teeth on said driving shaft; two levers pivoted onsaid frame, each lever engaging the annular groove in one of said hollowshafts; and a foot operable lever operatively connected with each ofsaid levers, substantiallv as described.

In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses,

, VVitnessesz v v JosHUA R; H. Po'rrs, ARTHUR A. OLSON.

fivecents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, 0.

thereof engaging the other set of clutch CHARLES F. RADATZ.

